United Airlines has announced that it is speeding up its planned retirement of its Boeing 727-200 fleet, a move consistent with other U.S. carriers who are also phasing out this model.
United was to have retired its 75-strong fleet of 727-200s by the end of 2003, but has now moved its phaseout target to March 2003.
Airline management blames the move on the soft economy, and anticipated higher costs for fuel and labor. The early retirement will reduce the airline's capacity growth estimate for 2001 from 2.2 percent to 1.9 percent.
A company statement said that 33 of this model will be retired this year, an increase from the previously announced schedule of eight aircraft, and 32 will be retired next year, an increase of seven from the previous schedule.
The 727 phaseout is part of the carrier's fleet modernization plan, that has been steadily bringing down the average age of its fleet. As well as the 727 project, United has phased out its B747-200s and DC-10s in the past six months.
By the end of this year, United will have an overall operating fleet of 611 aircraft, with an average age of 9.6 years. The average age of the 727 fleet is 22 years. At the end of 2002, United will have a fleet of 628 aircraft with an average age of 9.1 years. At the end of last year, the carrier had a fleet of 604 with an average age of 10.1 years.
A Boeing source said that most airlines in the U.S. have either phased out their 727s, or are in the process of phasing them out. Continental, for example, finished its phaseout of the 727 in 1999. American Trans Air will reduce its 727 fleet from 24 to 12 this year, and will completely phase the aircraft out by the end of 2002.
Many are being shifted to other countries, or are being converted to cargo aircraft. There are about 1300 of the 727 model worldwide.
Number of Boeing 727s Reported By American Carriers, Dec. 31, 2000.
American Airlines 60
American Trans Air 24
Delta 87
DHL 19
Federal Express 152
Northwest 25
United 75
UPS 61
TOTAL 503
Source: ATA
COPYRIGHT 2001 Phillips Publishing International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group
Altre informazioni:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,50104,00.html
Pare che li abbiano ritirati tutti ad inizio secolo.
Aggiungo che poi con l'overcapacity post 11/9/2001 la cosa sia stata anche accelerata...
In compenso credo che NW abbia ancora qualche dc9 in servizio.
